Dragon Keeper

Rain Wilds Chronicles, Volume 1

By: Robin Hobb

Narrated by: Anne Flosnik

Length: 20 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

For years, the Trader cities valiantly battled their enemies, the Chalcedeans. But they could not have staved off invasion without the powerful dragon, Tintaglia. In return, the Traders promised to help her serpents migrate up the Rain Wild River after a long exile at sea - to find a safe haven and, Tintaglia hopes, to restore her species.

But too much time has passed, and the newly hatched dragons are damaged and weak, and many die. The few who survive cannot use their wings; earthbound, they are powerless to hunt and vulnerable to human predators willing to kill them for the fabled healing powers of dragon flesh.

But Tintaglia has vanished, and the Traders are weary of the labor and expense of tending useless dragons. The Trader leadership fears that if it stops providing for the young dragons, the hungry and neglected creatures will rampage - or die along the river’s acidic muddy banks.

To avert catastrophe, the dragons decree a move even farther up the treacherous river to Kelsingra, their ancient, mythical homeland whose mysterious location is locked deep within the dragons’ uncertain ancestral memories. To ensure their safe passage, the Traders recruit a disparate group of young people to care for the damaged creatures and escort them to their new home. Among them is Thymara, an unschooled forest girl of 16, and Alise, a wealthy Trader’s wife trapped in a loveless marriage, who attaches herself to the expedition as a dragon expert. The two women share a deep kinship with the dragons: Thymara can instinctively communicate with them, and Alise, captivated by their beauty and majesty, has devoted her life to studying them.

Embarking on an arduous journey that holds no promise of return, the band of humans and dragons must make its way along the toxic and inhospitable Rain Wild River - an extraordinary odyssey that will teach them lessons about themselves and one another as they experience hardships, betrayals, and joys beyond their wildest dreams.

©2010 Robin Hobb (P)2020 HarperAudio

Great Dragon Tale; boring "Harlequin" romance

Books one and two weave two storylines. Storyline A is a relatively slow-moving and introspective tale of dragons and their keepers - all finding their identity. Storyline B is about men hiding their true love identity. "A" could appeal to younger readers who love dragons. "B" will confound where to shelve the books. I do wish the two stories could be separated so that one could choose which story to read.

I knew I have already listened to this!

This is not the first book I would read if I were just starting to listen to Robin Hobb's books. Seems you maybe able to start here if you'd like, but I think I like it more because of the other Robin Hobb series of books that I have already listened to. I was so confused as I was listening to this. I knew that I have heard this book before, but the release date was 2020, and I listened years ago. After some online research seems audible has released this again with a new narrator. I can't find the old one in my library. I feel kind of ripped off as now I have to buy two new books if I want to listen to them again :(

A Disgusting Foray Into Rape Fantasy

Not one, but two scenes depicting characters fantasizing about being sexually raped. I can't believe a writer would to pick something so foul knowing that it would serve to encourage people to commit such crimes. I will review this book on every platform I can find and spread the word that Robin Hobb is a filthy monster who should never be encouraged!

Good story but....

I have enjoyed Hobbs, books I do wish they were a little more clearly defined as to order. The overlap between series can be confusing. The narrator is fairly good. I find the multiple final “r”s to be annoying. Sometimes there seem to be five or six in herrrrrr. Aggrrrggghhh!

initial slog

i found it very difficult to get into the story. the opening chapter did not spark an interest.

Longing and intrigue, plus dragons

Wasn't expecting this much romantic longing and relational issues in this book, but it did fit the story even if a bit much for my taste. Definitely adds more details around dragons and the rainwilds, but you would be missing out on a lot (plus getting some spoilers) if this is your first read in the series.

Promising, but very slow to start

I find the premise of the story interesting and generally wanted to know what came next. However, I feel like the book should have started in the middle of the story rather than devoting almost half of it to a very slow lead-up, where everything could easily have been established during the action and then saved us several hours of wondering when the really interesting stuff would start. It does eventually start, though (even if the book does end in the middle of that), and we can feel like the main characters are finally having room to grow and develop and realize their competence. There's a fine line to walk with characters who are meant to be hated... It's easy to make a character despicable while making it such a generic kind of awful that you're not even sure they'll get a satisfying comeuppance, or when it will happen, or if there will be any justice for the people they've been awful to. It does seem like there will be some justice in this series, but it can be frustrating to listen to such a character spout off and know that it will likely be a long time before they find their downfall/redemption (depending on the character).

Good

Good, but it just sort of ends. Usually a book in a series still has some sort of satisfying end to it, but this one just kinda stops. It teases some mystery and I do want to read the next one, so job done I guess. The abrupt end just to me for surprise.

The story stopped in the middle!

I understand this is part of a series of 3-4 novels, but chopping off mid-story is no way to end any one of those novels. I can’t imagine what Robin Hobb could have been thinking when she decided to stop this book where she did. I gives me serious doubts about whether to continue listening to the series which I’ve already purchased. Will this “incomplete half-stories” be the pattern for all of them?